Getting to Know Des

Getting to know Des – because SO many of you asked for this. Apologies to those who could care less in advance…

1. What time did you get up this morning?
RL: oh-dark-thirty. I have insistent cats.
SL: I think it was 9a SLT.

2. Diamonds or pearls?
RL: Neither.
SL: Bling? No thanks 🙂

3. What was the last film you saw in the theatre?
RL: Indiana Jones, the latest one.
SL: I’m too busy to watch a film here – never have

4. Favorite TV Show?
FL: None – don’t watch it really.
SL: ?

5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
RL: Not much. But when I do, it’s usually coffee or earl grey with a biscuit or muffin
SL: I don’t eat!

6. What is your middle name?
RL: I don’t have one.
SL: Imitates life!

7. What food do you dislike?
RL: Sour Cream, mayonaisse – that sort of thing.
SL: It’s all equally tasteless here

8. What is your favorite cd at the moment?
RL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stronger_Than_Pride
SL: N/A

9. Favorite sandwich?
RL: Tuna on rye, no mayo.
SL: N/A

10. What characteristic do you despise?
RL: my own weaknesses – vague sense of superiority, overconfidence
SL: same

11. Favorite item of clothing?
RL: my Argentine loafers
SL: I never change! What I’m wearing…

12. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation…
RL: I tend to travel RL- Hong Kong, Thailand, Argentina, the Tahitians… I’ll go back 🙂
SL: Is sort of the antithesis of vacation for me 🙂

13. What color is your bathroom?
RL: grey-white tile
SL: don’t have one

14. Do you make friends easily?
RL: Very easily. Not the same as knowing me, though.
SL: same

15. Where would you retire?
RL: Where my kids sort of end up.
SL: I’ll never leave Caledon I think.

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday?
RL: If I recall correctly it was 1989, when my rental car broke down in the Atacama desert between Iquique and Antofagasta. I was alone. Bit of a story there.
SL: I don’t celebrate it

17. Favorite sport to watch?
RL: I don’t really watch sports
SL: I like to see people dogfighting with aerocraft or ships – great fun if I know them 🙂

18. How many towns have you lived in?
RL: lots of places… mostly in So Cal
SL: I don’t really live anywhere

19. How many people do you think will send this back?
None please! I’m deluged already

20. What is on your bedroom floor right now?
RL: Bedroom furniture and a jet black cat, no doubt.
SL: No bedroom!

21. Favorite saying?
RL: do I have one?
SL: do I have one?

22. When is your birthday?
RL: 9 Sept
SL: March I think – profile’s there!

23. Morning person or night person?
RL: varies
SL: night

24. What is your shoe size?
RL: 11
SL: ?

25. Pets?
RL: two cats
SL: none

26. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share?
RL: not really – small business can be sort of boring
SL: Oh, you all hear about my Caledon stuff constantly!

27. What did you want to be when you were little?
RL: astronaut, explorer
SL: small businessman

28. Which talent would you most like to have?
RL: finding happiness easily
SL: typing faster

29. Which words or phrases do you overuse?
RL: well if I use them, I clearly think I’m doing it in proper proportion!
SL: same

30. What is your favorite flower?
RL: blue iris
SL: tulip

31. What is the day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
RL: it’s all a blur – small business = work 7 days a week, or time off as needed
SL: whenever Caledon completes, whatever day that is!

32. What color are your eyes?
RL: brown
SL: brown

33. What was your favorite toy as a child?
RL: I had this or that thing, but mainly I liked my dog
SL: didn’t have a toy here

34. Summer or winter?
RL: summer
SL: fall!

35. Hugs or kisses?
this is an either/or choice? (probably hugs)

36. Chocolate or vanilla?
vanilla

37. Do you want your friends to send this back to you?
Nooooo! got too many already.

38. What is under your bed?
A jet black cat.

39. When was the last time you cried?
RL: stupidly to say, when I ‘discovered’ a safety pin the hard way 2 days ago.
SL: ah… let’s keep this not so personal 🙂

40. Who is the friend you have had the longest in SL?
Snacks Waki. Rez dates are not all they appear…

41. What did you do last night?
RL: Watched Elizabeth: The Golden Age with the wife
SL: Was offline doing the above

42. Favorite smell?
RL: how can one have a favourite smell?
SL: just boggled at this question

43. What are you afraid of?
RL: medical procedures. I’m phobic.
SL: Caledon descending into bling and tawdriness.

44. Plain, sweet, or salted popcorn?
RL: lightly salted
SL: N/A

45. How many keys on your keyring?
RL: couple old cars, the office, the house, the mailbox
SL: N/A

46. How many years at your current job?
RL: job!? I’ve run my own small business since 2001.
SL: hm. three years?

47. Do you have any scars?
RL: yes, small ones.
SL: no

48. Favorite day of the week?
RL: it’s all a blur
SL: same

49. How many people are you sending this to?
over 900. ack!

From 2008 ~Magdalena Kamenev

How Shocking!

To Des, with apologies

So Jan Stroikavskoi decorated in Llyr for my (and Byron’s) rezday, which happens to be on Christmas Day. I was shocked (shocked, I tell you!) to discover the mistletoe which she had placed over your statue outside the entrance to the Stone Circle. I felt compelled to report this at once, so I took a few pictures as evidence of the scandalous behavior which is sure to result from such inappropriate decor. I assure you that I hardly enjoyed myself at all while collecting this evidence, and that none of the other ladies waiting in line did either. We all have the utmost respect and admiration for your authority and wisdom. And your manly physique. And your firm icy grip. And… Um… Where was I? Oh, yes. Shocked. Shocked, I tell you.

Regards,

Arafel (aka Byron, aka Beckett, aka Tao, etc…)

~supplied by Magdalena Kamenev, including the photos below

And the next year…

Dear Governor Shang,

I happened to stop by Miss Jan Stroikavskoi’s holiday belly dancing party in Caledon Stormhold the other evening, and I felt that I simply must bring this to your attention. I was expecting a proper Caledonian affair, with all of the propriety, refinement, and restraint that entails. Although all seemed at first to be in order, I was shocked (shocked, I tell you!) to discover that Miss Stroikavskoi had placed mistletoe at the top of the archway at the entrance. Worse still, some madman (I suspect my rogue cousin, Byron Mistwalker) seems to have produced a lifelike simulacra of your august self, no doubt with the intent os using it for some foul and illicit purpose. I felt compelled to report this at once, and took a few snapshots as evidence of the scandalous behavior which ensued.

I assure you that I hardly enjoyed myself at all while collecting this evidence, and I feel quite certain that most of the young ladies who took part in this affair were forced to participate against their will. Some of them undoubtedly felt compelled to feign enjoyment out of fear for their well-being. Miss Magda Haiku seemed particularly devoted to playing her role to the fullest, going so far as to add some quite colorful (and detailed) verbal embellishment to the sordid event — she must have been terrified, the poor dear. I’ll include a transcript below, purely for informational purposes. Once again, please remember that we, your loyal citizens, all have the utmost respect and admiration for your authority and wisdom. And your manly physique. And your firm yet gentle gubernatorial grip. And… And… Umm… Where was I? Oh, yes. Shocked. Shocked, I tell you.

Warmest regards,

Arafel (aka Tao, aka Byron, aka Beckett, etc…)

~submitted by Magdalena Kamenev along with the following images